We are proud and excited to announce the recipients of the 2018 Awards of Excellence, which go to high school seniors who are children of our First Responders and have demonstrated commitment to community.

As part the opening of their second location in Aksarben Center, My Pie Pizza vowed to donate 20% of all sales from Saturday, January 26th through Sunday, January 27th back to the First Responders Foundation.

“We didn’t get the best Omaha winter weather the week we opened, but we made the most of it that weekend. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to give back to the First Responders Foundation in whatever way possible,” said Blair Horner, Owner of My Pie Pizza.

Horner, and his daughter Anna Horner, General Manager, presented us with a check for $507 from the event.

“We are honored that My Pie Pizza chose the First Responders Foundation to partner with for their Grand Opening. We look forward to continuing this partnership in the future,” said Al Batschelet, President and CEO.

If your organization is looking for a fun sponsorship opportunity, this is it! Get in front of Omaha’s finest and thousands of first responders and spectators with a Guns N Hoses sponsorship! Email contact@firstrespondersomaha.org for more details.

The First Responders Foundation is formally announcing the retirement of co-founder and President and Executive Director Ray Somberg. Ray and longtime friend Jerry Hoberman founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2008 in an effort to enhance public safety and build community appreciation and respect for our first responders.

Under Ray’s leadership, the First Responders Foundation has donated more than 1.5 million dollars for much needed equipment and support for Omaha’s police and fire departments.

“The First Responders Foundation provides so much more than financial resources for our police and fire departments. It creates community pride, gratitude and public awareness of the risks police officers and firefighters take every day,” said Mayor Jean Stothert. “The Foundation started as a way to thank our first responders. Now it’s our turn to thank Ray for his lifelong dedication to Omaha and support of public safety.”

The foundation is pleased to announce that Major General Al Batschelet has agreed to accept the position vacated by Somberg and will take over executive responsibilities immediately.

“We are thrilled to welcome Al, who brings a wealth of strategic planning and organizational skills and whose life’s work and experience aligns with our mission,” said Jim Hanson, Jr., Chairman of the Board. “While it will be difficult to replace Ray, we believe that Al is the perfect fit to lead the foundation into the future.”

MG Batschelet had a 33-year career in the US Army and retired as a Major General. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in history and political science from Iowa State University and three military master degrees. Al has been a motivational leader, a creative thinker and consensus builder in organizations ranging in size from several hundred to over 100,000. Most recently, he was the Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base. There Al was directly responsible for the supervision of more than 4,000 military and civilian staff personnel in 10 operating units.

The First Responders Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners directly with Omaha’s police and fire departments and unions to provide meaningful resources and vital equipment and create programs and events that make a positive impact on the community.

We are proud and excited to announce the winners of our inaugural “Awards of Excellence” program, which go to high school seniors who are children of our First Responders and have demonstrated commitment to community.

The Awards of Excellence are made possible by our Booster Club.

The following are the 2017 Winners:

Melanie Doyle, Bellevue West High SchoolKatlyn Holaday, Cam High School (Iowa)Kaitlynn Johnson, Millard West High SchoolBrenden O’Brien, Lewis Central High SchoolKatharine Moore, Duchesne AcademyVictor Salerno, Glenwood Community High SchoolBaily OBorny, Bennington High SchoolMadison Swanson, Mercy High SchoolElizabeth Rockwell, Millard NorthHigh SchoolBrooklyn Housh, Millard West High School

We appreciate the hard work and dedication exhibited by all applicants and wish everyone continued success in all future endeavors.

To support this program and the First Responders Foundation into the future, we invite you to become a member of the Booster Club! Receive a free gift with your $40 membership.

The First Responders Foundation is a nonprofit that works to enhance public safety in our community by providing resources to police officers and firefighters and to show appreciation for their dedicated service.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of 9/11. In partnership with Stinson Park, the First Responders Foundation is presenting Omaha Together, a day-long event to honor the lives lost on September, 11, 2001.

We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 11 at Stinson Park for Omaha’s official day of remembrance. The day will begin with the 3rd Annual Minute of Silence Ceremony. Immediately following will be a day of free family activities to encourage Omahans to come together in honor of the lives lost, reunite as a community, and show appreciation for our first responders.

Practicing hour after hour and day after day. There was to be no room for error and their mission was accomplished. Who are they? They are the men and women of the Omaha Police Honor Guard and Pipe & Drums and they were on full display in Washington DC for National Police Week.

For them, this year was special. This year they were in DC to represent one of their own, fallen Officer Kerrie Orozco, EOW May 20, 2015. The OPD Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums were given special duties this trip. They were chosen for an elite ceremony at the Pentagon. They would carry the United States Honor Flag to the Pentagon Police to fly at the Pentagon in Kerrie’s Honor. The flag would fly on the same flag pole that remembers those killed on Sept 11, 2001. Later in the week, the Honor Guard was also chosen to present a wreath with Kerrie’s name on it at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Two sacred places, two sacred ceremonies with an Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums group that allowed no room for error. They would be the best of the best representing Officer Kerrie Orozco and the dignity of the entire Omaha Police Department. This task they did not fail, in fact, they excelled.

It’s hard to find the words to describe what it feels like to be in DC with tens of thousands of officers all in their dress uniforms. To look at them and know they were there because, like Omaha, they lost one of their own.

But DC wasn’t about sadness. It was about remembrance and honor and making sure the world knows these officers gave their all. It was about giving all of the fallen officers the respect that they so rightly deserved. It was about forming bonds that may last a lifetime. It was a brotherhood and sisterhood in an exclusive club that no one really wanted to join. It was about sharing in each other’s pain and moving forward.

The week was about honor and respect and our foundation was privileged to be a part of such a dignified week. It was our duty to bring the message of Support Blue to the men and women who protect us and let them know we have their back. We support them for the job that they do. We will continue to spread the Support Blue message wherever we can and encourage others to do the same.

Calling all law enforcement officers!

On May 20, 2016, the 55th Security Forces Squadron will be holding the 6th Annual Police Week Golf Tournament at Fox Run in Council Bluffs. This event is open to all Law Enforcement Agencies around Omaha and teams are first come, first serve. Funds from perks purchased to assist you in play will be donated to the First Responders Foundation.

There will also be a 2016 Chevy vehicle up for grabs for those who make the hole-in-one on a designated par three. Additionally, there will be prizes ranging from golf balls, to bags, to full sets of clubs at designated longest drive and closest to the pin holes. Also gift cards from various companies.

There will also be free food grilled up and free drinks, excluding alcohol, available.

Sign up for a good time and for a good cause with your fellow Brothers and Sisters in Blue!